Sun, 07/02/2017 - 15:05

Nezwaah earns first Group 1 win with Ireland's Pretty Polly Stakes

Nezwaah won the first Group 1 race of her career in Sunday’s $256,792 Pretty Polly Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf, beating a field that included Zhukova, the winner of the Grade 1 Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont Park on May 13.

Ridden by Andrea Atzeni, Nezwaah (13-2) closed from the back of a field of 10 to win by 3 1/4 lengths over 6-1 Rain Goddess, one of two fillies in the field trained by Aidan O’Brien. Turret Rocks, a 25-1 outsider, finished third, a head in front of Zhukova, in the race held at the Curragh in Ireland.

Sat, 07/01/2017 - 16:10

Capri gives O'Brien his 12th Irish Derby victory

The deck keeps getting shuffled, but Aidan O’Brien still holds all the right cards.

O’Brien upset the Epsom Derby last month with longshot bomber Wings of Eagles, who beat his better-fancied stablemate Cliffs of Moher. On Saturday, it was Wings of Eagles who was favored in the Group 1, $977,652 Irish Derby, but O’Brien won it with Capri, who was ridden at The Curragh by Seamie Heffernan.

Fri, 06/30/2017 - 15:28

Hong Kong selections for Saturday, July 1, 2017

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Saturday, July 1)

 

Brett Davis 

Race 1: 12-4-7-1

Race 2: 4-10-6-7

Race 3: 8-1-12-3

Race 4: 2-8-4-6

Race 5: 2-1-5-4

Race 6: 6-9-3-10

Race 7: 2-1-3-12

Race 8: 8-12-5-6

Race 9: 10-4-7-13

Race 10: 6-12-9-14

Best - Race 5: #2 All You Need  

Longshot - Race 3: #8 Holy Unicorn

Best Play - Race 5: Q/Qp   1,2,5

 

Paul Lally

Race 1: 12-4-7-14

Race 2: 4-1-9-2

Fri, 06/30/2017 - 15:00

Zhukova back at home for Pretty Polly

Barbara D. Livingston
Zhukova won the Man o’War at Belmont over very soft ground.

Zhukova had a successful journey from Ireland to New York last month, winning the Grade 1 Man o’ War Stakes against males at Belmont Park on May 13.

Her next assignment is much closer to home – Sunday’s Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes for fillies and mares at The Curragh in Ireland. Zhukova won the Man o’ War on a very soft course and is expected to get a similar type of ground Sunday.

Thu, 06/29/2017 - 17:41

My Darling hopes to start streak with Reunification Cup victory

My Darling, a 4-year-old Australian-bred gelding, ended a four-race losing streak with a comfortable win in the Viva Pataca Handicap at seven furlongs on turf at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on May 28.

The win may be the start of a new streak. My Darling will carry topweight of 133 pounds in Saturday’s $224,195 Hong Kong Reunification Cup at Sha Tin, which is run at seven furlongs on turf.

My Darling will be ridden by leading rider Joao Moreira for leading trainer John Size. They have been a potent team in Hong Kong this year, winning at a 23 percent clip.

Thu, 06/29/2017 - 13:16

O'Brien has five entries in nine-horse Irish Derby

He won the Epsom Derby as a 40-1 shot with little-known jockey Padraig Beggy on his back, but can Wings of Eagles score again Saturday at The Curragh under Ryan Moore as one of the favorites in the Group 1 Irish Derby?

His trainer, in his unique way, is due to win the 1 1/2-mile race; Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Derby drought stands at two long years. Before that, O’Brien had won the Irish Derby every season between 2008 and 2014, and Wings of Eagles is one of five O’Brien-trained entrants in the nine-horse Derby who could give him a 10th win.

Thu, 06/29/2017 - 10:59

Andrew Hawkins' Hong Kong selections and analysis for Saturday, July 1, 2017

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Saturday, July 1, 2017)

 

RACE 1: #12 Hurricane Hunter, #2 None Other, #7 Leisured Feet, #9 Remarkable

RACE 2: #3 Super Euro Star, #4 Bright Star, #9 Golden Cannon, #8 Bonheur

RACE 3: #2 Rhode Assassin, #9 Invisible, #1 Consistent, #8 Holy Unicorn

RACE 4: #1 Bullish Glory, #2 Ensuring, #8 Gorgeous Again, #6 Best Reward

RACE 5: #2 All You Need, #4 Regency Darling, #1 Amazing Moment, #9 Southern Express

Tue, 06/27/2017 - 09:34

Hong Kong selections for Wednesday, June 28, 2017

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, June, 28)

 

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis

 

Brett Davis 

Race 1: 3-2-6-4

Race 2: 5-1-7-6

Race 3: 7-1-8-4

Race 4: 7-5-4-1

Race 5: 5-10-3-11

Race 6: 3-5-4-6

Race 7: 5-11-6-4

Race 8: 6-5-3-11

Best Bet - Race 5: #5 Peace N Prosperity  

Longshot - Race 2: #5 Goal For Gold

Best Play - Race 2: Q/QP   1,5,7

 

Mon, 06/26/2017 - 15:30

Time Warp likely to show the way in Hoi Ha Handicap

Time Warp slipped away to an insurmountable lead in the Wyndham Handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong on June 14, recording his first victory in his eighth start this year.

Those tactics may be on display in Wednesday’s $224,393 Hoi Ha Handicap at Happy Valley. The difference is the race distance. The Wyndham was run at 1 1/8 miles on turf, while the Hoi Ha Handicap is run at about a mile and 50 yards on turf.

The Hoi Ha Handicap is the seventh race on an eight-race program at Happy Valley. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Mon, 06/26/2017 - 11:04

Andrew Hawkins' Hong Kong selections and analysis for Wednesday, June 28, 2017

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, June 28, 2017)

 

RACE 1: #4 Premium Champion, #2 Je Pense, #3 Eastern Prowess, #11 Storm Kid

RACE 2: #1 Go Go Win, #6 Formula Galore, #8 My Blessing, #5 Goal For Gold

RACE 3: #1 Trendy Win, #4 Sunny Orient, #8 Clever Spirit, #2 Good Choice

RACE 4: #1 Grace Heart, #4 Planet Star, #3 Otouto, #6 Sight Seeing

RACE 5: #3 Fortune Bo Bo, #5 Peace N Prosperity, #11 Gracydad, #6 Top Act